"We obviously act on the side of taking precaution and we felt that the right thing to do was to evacuate our staff and visitors," Hartwig said, adding the museum would remain closed for the day.

The Getty Center is home to a priceless collection of pre-20th century European paintings and other works of art, most notably Vincent Van Gogh's 1889 oil on canvas "Irises," among the most expensive paintings ever sold.